Leh, Aug 05: The Fifth Finance Commission for Union Territories has commenced a pivotal review of the roles played by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in implementing Centrally Sponsored Schemes across Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. The high-level review meetings, starting today, will span across Leh, Kargil, and Srinagar, focusing on the effectiveness and challenges faced by these local bodies.
In Ladakh, the Commission’s agenda includes meetings with Deputy Commissioners, Municipal Committees, and visits to several Panchayats in Leh and Kargil districts. These discussions aim to delve into the practical challenges and achievements of local governance in the region. A critical discussion with the Lieutenant Governor and other senior officials will also take place before the Commission returns to New Delhi on August 12.
Meanwhile, in Srinagar, the Commission will engage with top officials from the Finance, Rural, and Housing and Urban Development Departments. This segment of the review will scrutinize the functioning of PRIs and ULBs in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in light of the expiration of the elected terms of Panchayats, Block Development Councils (BDCs), and ULBs between November 2023 and January 2024. The impact of delayed elections linked to the inclusion of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) reservations will also be a focal point.
The delegation, led by Chairman Anil Kumar Jha and comprising members Amey Sapre and Binay Bhushan, will be joined in Leh by Member Prashant Goyal. Their itinerary includes extensive discussions with the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brigadier (Retired) BD Mishra, tours of various local bodies, and development sites, including a village under the Vibrant Village Programme.
Key issues on the agenda include the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the allocation of funds between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh post-reorganization, and the effectiveness of grants recommended by the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions. The Commission will also evaluate the general functioning of ULBs and PRIs in Ladakh before and after its transformation into a Union Territory.
Since the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019, and the abrogation of Article 370, this review assumes paramount importance. The last local elections in 2018 now face a significant overhaul with the new emphasis on OBC reservations, set to be finalized by a recently constituted OBC Commission. The outcomes of these reviews are expected to set the stage for subsequent elections to the Panchayats and Municipalities once the OBC Commission’s report is submitted.
